PAN, January 13, 2013

Baghlan police official facing rape charges

The girl was abducted from the Khanabad district of Kunduz to Baghlan province two months ago

By Habibur Rahman Sherzai

The crime branch chief for the Nahrin district of northern Baghlan province has been referred to the military prosecution office on the charge of sexually abusing a girl, an official said on Sunday.

The girl was abducted from the Khanabad district of Kunduz to Baghlan province two months ago, the provincial police chief, Brig. Gen. Asadullah Sherzad, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said Zar Bibi was rescued by police last week from Nahrin district. Five individuals, who were complicit in her kidnapping, were also detained.

Sherzad said the girl had accused the Nahrin crime branch chief, Col. Mohammad Barat Daqiq, of molesting her after being rescued from captors. As a result, he said they summoned Daqiq to the provincial capital and introduced him to military prosecutors.

Zar Bibi said five armed men broke into her house in Kunduz province two months ago and dragged her into a vehicle. She said the kidnappers belonged to Nahrin and Khost districts of Baghlan.

Following her release, the girl claimed, police handed her over to her uncle in Nahrin district. But a day later, Daqiq forcibly took the girl from her uncle’s residence and raped her. She asked the government to award harsh punishment to Daqiq and the kidnappers.

The victim’s uncle, Habibullah, said the crime branch chief had threatened him with death if the issue was shared with the higher-ups.

But the crime branch chief, Col. Daqiq, said he had invited the girl to his office to explain the incident. He vehemently denied raping girl.

A few weeks back, a video leaked showing the police chief of Badghis province, Mohammad Jabbar Saleh, molesting a woman. (Photo: From Facebook)